I was impressed by this small, cosy basque restaurant that delivered some very strong dishes, with good service and a nice atmosphere. Highlights were the anchovies, the black rice seafood, the prawns, the ribeye and the basque cheesecake which will definitely be thought about again across the year. Would definitely recommend for a semi-casual night with family or friends. read more

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One of London's many tapas/ Spanish bistro in Marylebone neighborhood. The restaurant is cozy with very friendly service. They offer many small dishes and a few entrees with Spanish and Basque influence. The octopus croquettes, slow cooked pork cheek, and wagyu steak pintxo were all very good. Our favorite was the figs and burrata salad with pomegranates. read more

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When you want to introduce someone to a cuisine, most of never tried, definitely find yourself a Basque restaurant. This is one of two within the local neighborhood, with the other one being closer to the country style Basque menu more oriented towards group sharing, and table wines. Donostia is dedicated to some of the finer examples of this French/Spanish inspired cuisine. The formal dining area is located in the basement of the restaurant, which gives it a very cozy and private atmosphere. But also leaves it completely devoid of Internet and cell service, so be prepared for that. The seafood paella was excellent as was the specials item kingfish pil pil. A great find in W1! read more

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Staff was super friendly, and these basque cheesecakes were some of the best basque cheesecakes we've had. We loved everything we ordered, the croquettes, tomatoes, the specials, but especially the roasted peppers. read more

Donostia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

This was an excellent experience. Great service and the grilled octopus was just awesome. The cheese ham croquettes as well. Highly recommended... read more

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Did not have a reservation, but on a weeknight was able to walk in and nab a seat at the bar. Great wine selection (and generous with tasting pours) to start and excellent recommendations made by knowledgeable host. The daily specials were amazing. My colleague and I ordered off the regular menu and the specials list and the food arrived at a good pace in a nicely plated order. It was fun to watch the chef create the tortillas and the duck breast dishes and his finishes on the specials. Standout from the regular menu was the octopus - simply grilled and from the specials was a roasted red pepper with fish and potato mash (my words do not do the dish justice). read more

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I ate at the bar a few months ago and had a nice meal. Its always hard at the bar pending how busy they are and I felt a little forgotten. I dont begrudge the staff that but its something as a frequent solo traveller that can make or break an experience. The highlight was absolutely the eggplant in pastry appetizer that was out of this world. It was a special but I would go back just for that. The lamb that I had for a main was a bit on the fatty side and just not quite there. So while the eggplant was amazing, my experience was colored by the service and the lamb. read more

Never disappoints. We had the pan con tomato, so simple and delicious. Wine list is great with great value. One of my favorites in London

Excellent meal! The Jamone and Bollota Pork were amazing. Nice rhubarb sorbet to finish. Presentation was great and service was very prompt and friendly in a nice comfy location in Marble Arch area. Will be going back. read more

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authentic and traditional Basque tapas. so, so good. it's a small space and I think there are two seatings a night, so reservations are definitely recommended/required highly recommended: octopus, prawns and especially the grilled calamari in squid ink and the cod in black rice. we ordered a second helping of the last two dishes. there's a nice selection of different cured meats. we especially like the chorizo which was sweeter than mexican chorizo and really tasty a good wine list, heavily weighted to Spanish wines but with helpful descriptions which made it easy to pick one considering how much we ordered for four people, it's actually a very good value. highly recommended!! read more

Excellent tapas without having to endure the major queues for Barrafina. The menu is less fishy-focused than that of Barrafina. Everything we ordered was delicious but the real standouts for me were the pluma with romesco sauce, the baby octopus and the tortilla. Great wine selection (I believe the owners are also owners of a rare wine dealership) I went just after it had opened so the service was a little haphazard but I have no doubt it has been smoothed out now. read more

Donostia is a high end tapas restaurant with a friendly relaxed ambiance. Much better than Tapas Brindisa and almost as good as Morito. We were seated at the bar and served a basket of bread with delicious olive oil (could definitely taste the quality). Be forewarned if you get another basket you will be charged. The tempura prawns were a pleasant surprise here! I wasn't expecting much but really enjoyed the crispiness of the two prawns and the tangy sauce that came along with it. The squid ink arroz was very creamy, polished the whole thing but it's very rich if you're looking for something less filling. Pork belly was so tender, definitely get it. read more

I'm very psyched about Donostia. ex-Barrafina and Fino talent are part of this new Pintxo/Tapa haven. Ingredients were super fresh and full of flavor. Dishes were cooked to perfection. Owners/Managers were on top of it, providing a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The word is going to get out about this place! read more

An absolutely delightful Basque restaurant, with delicious food and great service. I arrived solo, without a reservation, and sat at the chef's counter/bar (although they were quite kind and offered to seat me at a table anyway!) - the servers were very attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. I arrived quite early (around 6:30), but as the place filled up it was a great atmosphere. My favorite dishes were the specials (sardine pintxo, pork belly with apple puree), although I also loved the scallops. Oh, and make sure to order the Txakoli (white wine, classic accompaniment to pintxos in the Basque Country)! It's always a bit awkward dining alone, especially in a (somewhat) unfamiliar city, but I felt completely at home, a very pleasurable experience. And well-priced. What a find! I will definitely be returning the next time I am in town. read more

What a find in London. Two blocks from the marble arches and easy to get to from anywhere. Great tapas and wine. Food to share with friends. Pig cheeks, octopus, sardines were all amazing. If we were in London again soon, this will definitely be a stop. We were going to Barrafina but read that the wait can be very long and that the chef here used to be at barrafina. Got there at 6:30 was the first party there. By the time we have our wine, the place filled up with lots fun foodies of London. Atmosphere was quant, simple but fun. There is more seating downstairs and that is also where the restroom is as well. Nice job with great food, wine, atmosphere. This place gives England a bit more credit for the food scene. read more

Stumbled upon this gem whilst taking a detour towards Edgeware Road. Think Barrafina with an added twist of creativity (we had the deep-fried Elderflower...amazing!) If anything, just pop in for a glass of the Txakoli - a slightly sparkling white wine native to the Basque Country, and poured at height from the glass. The service is also incredibly friendly and attentive. I think I may found my new favourite source of tapas! read more

The joy and danger of tapas places is being able to try so many different delicious things. So many things on the menu that I can't pronounce, but I'll try to go through a list of the things we tried... Jamon Iberico - I could literally just eat trays and trays of this. Croquetas - crispy outside with creamy and delicious and delicious inside with a good smack of that cured meat flavor. Octopus - OK, probably wouldn't order again. Fish Cheek with Squid Ink Aioli - delicious Charcuterie Plate - good assortment of meats, but the Jamon Iberico was a hard act to follow Pan con Tomate - very refreshing Scallops - perfectly cooked, and the butternut squash puree was amazing Wagyu Slider - good, but appetite is probably better spent on other plates Very intimate setting good for small read more

I am so glad I found this little restaurant while visiting London. The menu was full of things I wanted to try and the specials were perfectly aligned with the weather and how I was feeling. The food was exceptional, even the simple things like a tomato salad seemed to have something extra. I loved everything I ordered including the wine. But the service was really where they earned the extra star. I was traveling by myself which is often lonely at dinner time. I did not feel that way here. I sat at the bar, which is on the other side of the kitchen. They all talked passionately about the food and took the time to make me feel like I was a welcome friend. I would return to this place anytime and am struggling to decide if I should for a second night in a row! read more

Open for just over a week and already its hit the ground running. Thomas, ex chef from Barrafina, has added to his repertiore. Great food, great hosts. And a really good selection of wine. Have been twice and now can see myself there very often. read more

This place is great. Counter and tables, simple decor, it is all about the food and wine. Great wine, good tapas--foie gras on toast, tortilla, croquetas, sliders. We enjoyed a special steak from the Basque country, the monkfish with squid ink rice (which was amazing!) and on Sundays you can get suckling pig. I still am partial to Barrafina but this place is less of a scene, great on service and food, and you can book. Good service, proud Basque place and people that care about good food and wine. Thumbs up! read more

Very cute restaurant with Spanish flair. My main dish was a pork from the special menu and it was delicious. Desert was okay. Service and staff was outstanding. read more

Donostia - Seared pork neck. Delicious. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

Well done, Donostia. Well done. Great food, impressive service, nice atmosphere. I'd be equally comfortable taking my parents or using it as a date spot. My recommendation -- go with at least 3-4 friends, focus on the seafood, share everything, and whatever you do, order a bottle (or three) of Txacoli (lightly sparkling very dry spanish white -- mineral-y and really nice) Might not bother with the deserts -- they're good, but less so than everything else. read more

This is a hidden gem. A little out of the way but some authentic Basque Spanish offerings. read more

Donostia - Squid "a la placha" ink sauce. WOW! Seasonal only but it's amazing if they have it. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

Donostia is all about good wine and food. Cosy small restaurang with good service. The highlight was the burger which tasted great and was just the right size. The foie gras (duck liver) was excellent. If you are in London I would recommend this little gem. read more

Donostia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

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Before the first course arrives, before we've even ordered, there is some fine bread with olive oil on the side that tastes as if it were made on premises because there are lovely hints of rosemary and pepper. I join these lovely slices with a Hendrix gin and tonic that bursts with flavour from the addition of cucumber. When the G&Ts are gone we follow with a Vina Zonzal Graciano 2009 Navarna. A red this red is as deep as the colour itself, sweet and smokey. It balances well with the tapas and mains we enjoy. We start with the Kintoa board, a lovely wooden presentation of chorizo, sauciscon, and Byonne ham. The thin slices are beautifully intense. Most chorizos might as well be a hot dog when compared to this chorizo. The sauciscon meanwhile is embedded with delightfully spicey peppery chunks and the Byonne ham is in the same class as a fine Parma ham. More tapas keep arriving. A deep-fried crispy baby squid is crunchy and chewy and could be a meal in and of itself. Some lovely fresh Pereno peppers are deep fried and generously laid with solid chunks of sea salt giving a sweet explosion when combined with the pepper seeds. As the restaurant is a tapas one, the mains portion is appropriately a bit smaller than usually found in Britain. It is a wonderful pidgin breast served on something I've never had before, a smoked chestnut puree. The vegetables on the side are some wild mushrooms. By making them into a puree, these are the most delicious chestnuts I have ever tasted. Last course is the desert course. I opt for the zokolote, a chocolate mousse that is thick an creamy and melts like heaven. My friend opts for the pear soaked in red wine, also divine. Me gusta, I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

Excellent tapas in Marylebone area! Cute street with a variety of cuisines. Delicious coquetas, charcuterie, oxtail special and tomatoes in season! Finished with torrija dessert (bread pudding). Small place so make a reservation online! read more

A solid tapas spot all around. Owners and chefs were greatly entertaining and made a first date really relaxed. I always enjoy sitting at the chef's counter to watch them in action as well as watch all the dishes get assembled right in front of you. It always convinces me to order "just one more dish" which you definitely can at Donosita. I was not disappointed with any of the dishes! It was that damn good. read more

Donostia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

If you've been to San Sebastian and experienced real Pintxos, you're in for a big disappointment. This is not Pintxos as the name of the restaurant would lead you to believe. Its not even Southern Spanish tapas. In fact I'm not sure what this is. Its just another Chi-Chi white tablecloth prententious place that criminally assaults your tastebuds. But if you want to impress your (non-foodie) date take her there for the ambience - definitely not for the food. read more

This place just works! Chef has his team closely aligned on the artful preparation of fresh tapas. A spectacular specials menu accompanies the menu standards. Be brave when ordering wine from the extensive wine list - you will not be disappointed. read more

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As we say in Malay, 'bak cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan' which translates to 'like mushrooms sprouting after the rain'. The tapas culture has hit London like a storm. I am constantly on the lookout for good tapas places, not only for food but for the wine, atmosphere and people too. Tucked in a little side street that connects at Seymour Place with Upper Berkeley Street in Marylebone, Donostia joined the London tapas arena early this year. Initially visiting on a friend's recommendation, I have since been there many times and can say it has been one of my favourite places to go of late. If you like Barrafina and Jose's in London you will love it too. Photo link: https://vittovinviajar.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif Donostia, which is Basque for San Sebastian, offers the first authentic Cocina Vasca (Basque Cuisine) in London and needless to say, the food is delicious and beautifully crafted by head chef, Thomas Baranski. For all whom do not recognise this name, Thomas is the former head chef of Barrafina also worked at Fino and Brindisa. To top it all, Thomas's not only trained, but excelled in Urepel, one of the most respected restaurants in San Sebastian, Spain. Donostians (people of San Sebastian) are gastronomes, they love their food, love cooking it, talking about it and eating it. This is how I felt being in Donostia, they have a passion for their food, they love to discuss their food, they want to know what you think about the food, they serve it well and cook it phenomenally. Donostia offers a daily menu of the more famous Basque dishes, to name a few; croquettes, tortilla bacalao, pil-pil and Jamon Iberico (from the Basque Kintoa pig), specials are introduced daily. Basque cooking it's an art in itself, authentically Spanish, traditional and with a touch of modernism. Basque cooking is a cultural, historic and economic revolution in Spain. It was in 1975, when the traditional heavy and creamy food was refined, modernised, and experimented with by chefs who were influenced by the finesse of French cooking from the north, resulting in elegantly crafted Spanish cuisine. Basque cuisine may at times seem to have combinations that sound outright sinful, but that it is why it stands out, it's unique; its art and with the right chef it is a masterpiece. However, it is yet to achieve its deserved acclaim and has yet to get the attention it deserves. What better way to start spreading the word than in the exuberant city of gastronomic varieties and culture of London. The wines are no less interesting and are handpicked by the co-owners Melody Adams and Nemanja Borjanovic (who also owns Mountain Valley Wines).They provide regional Spanish wines that compliment the food and stimulates the curiosity, especially if you have palette for regional Spanish wine, like I do. I love my Spanish wines, especially the regional ones. When I was in Spain, I was fortunate enough to try different regional wines. Most of these wines never make its way to import market; so you can imagine how exciting it was glancing through the wine list. What they have in Donostia are wines that you never knew existed. From fresh, round, fruity, and bold; they complement the different varieties of food, your palate and even your mood. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; as they say. In this case, when in Donostia, do as the Donostians do and have a txakoli. A green, slightly sparkling, dry white wine poured from great height into a tumbler. Now, this was the first for me. I loved the idea and enjoyed this 'spritzy' white wine. A definite must try. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Donostia for the food, the wine and the staff. Sometimes I feel I am in one of those famous and often spoken about gastronomic clubs of San Sebastian 'txokos'; where you cook, eat and talk about the food. Well, I am undoubtedly not cooking there (that's a shame, what better what to enjoy the food you love than by cooking it yourself), but the experience being in Donostia is very much like a being a Donostian yourself. read more

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As we say in Malay, 'bak cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan' which translates to 'like mushrooms sprouting after the rain'. The tapas culture has hit London like a storm. I am constantly on the lookout for good tapas places, not only for food but for the wine, atmosphere and people too. Tucked in a little side street that connects at Seymour Place with Upper Berkeley Street in Marylebone, Donostia joined the London tapas arena early this year. Initially visiting on a friend's recommendation, I have since been there many times and can say it has been one of my favourite places to go of late. If you like Barrafina and Jose's in London you will love it too. Donostia, which is Basque for San Sebastian, offers the first authentic Cocina Vasca (Basque Cuisine) in London and needless to say, the food is delicious and beautifully crafted by head chef, Thomas Baranski. For all whom do not recognise this name, Thomas is the former head chef of Barrafina also worked at Fino and Brindisa. To top it all, Thomas's not only trained, but excelled in Urepel, one of the most respected restaurants in San Sebastian, Spain. Donostians (people of San Sebastian) are gastronomes, they love their food, love cooking it, talking about it and eating it. This is how I felt being in Donostia, they have a passion for their food, they love to discuss their food, they want to know what you think about the food, they serve it well and cook it phenomenally. Donostia offers a daily menu of the more famous Basque dishes, to name a few; croquettes, tortilla bacalao, pil-pil and Jamon Ibrerico (from the Basque Kintoa pig), specials are introduced daily. Basque cooking it's an art in itself, authentically Spanish, traditional and with a touch of modernism. Basque cooking is a cultural, historic and economic revolution in Spain. It was in 1975, when the traditional heavy and creamy food was refined, modernised, and experimented with by chefs who were influenced by the finesse of French cooking from the north, resulting in elegantly crafted Spanish cuisine. Basque cuisine may at times seem to have combinations that sound outright sinful, but that it is why it stands out, it's unique; its art and with the right chef it is a masterpiece. However, it is yet to achieve its deserved acclaim and has yet to get the attention it deserves. What better way to start spreading the word than in the exuberant city of gastronomic varieties and culture of London. The wines are no less interesting and are handpicked by the co-owners Melody Adams and Nemanja Borjanovic (who also owns Mountain Valley Wines).They provide regional Spanish wines that compliment the food and stimulates the curiosity, especially if you have palette for regional Spanish wine, like I do. I love my Spanish wines, especially the regional ones. When I was in Spain, I was fortunate enough to try different regional wines. Most of these wines never make its way to import market; so you can imagine how exciting it was glancing through the wine list. What they have in Donostia are wines that you never knew existed. From fresh, round, fruity, and bold; they complement the different varieties of food, your palate and even your mood. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; as they say. In this case, when in Donostia, do as the Donostians do and have a txakoli. A green, slightly sparkling, dry white wine poured from great height into a tumbler. Now, this was the first for me. I loved the idea and enjoyed this 'spritzy' white wine. A definite must try. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Donostia for the food, the wine and the staff. Sometimes I feel I am in one of those famous and often spoken about gastronomic clubs of San Sebastian 'txokos'; where you cook, eat and talk about the food. Well, I am undoubtedly not cooking there (that's a shame, what better what to enjoy the food you love than by cooking it yourself), but the experience being in Donostia is very much like a being a Donostian yourself. read more

My husband and I happened to find this restaurant which was close to the B & B we were staying at. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine pairing. We loved everything we tasted. We went there twice within a week and both times felt it was a cozy and lively with such attention to detail in their food prep. We came back to drink their Hendrix gin and tonic on our last night in London and it made our trip very memorable. read more

A great discovery, we will be back. First of all Seymour Place is turning into a fantastic little gem for food and drinks, with lots of great small intimate places with character lined up, and lots of people in the street for drinks when the weather allows. Food at Donostia was excellent, a short but very good menu full of tapas and a few main courses. They have a few specials as well including excellent meat. We tried many tapas and I had a fantastic piece of beef. Wines are very good as well as the owners started with a wine business from the basque country originally. Recommended as a great place to locals and even as a destination. read more

It is a small place with small menu but what I love about it is every dish is not a miss. I wish it's menu changes more frequently. There are specials on the menu but more or less the core menu changes. A def must try in my mind - my favourite Spanish... read more

So yelpers..you are right on food. Everything we ate was tasty. We had so much I couldn't name it all here. So why only three stars. Well I have Pizzaro & Jose on my doorstep and both are far better than this place. We had the Iberico pork medium rare - Pizzaro have had a similar dish but their pork melted in your mouth, this didn't. Honestly if I hadn't been to Jose Pizzaro's restaurants I would probably be giving this place a 4 star rating. We had one dish that seemed delayed and when we asked we just got told it was on it's way..no acknowledgment that it was delayed. Then they forgot our coffees but included them on the bill. To be fair they offered to give them to us for nothing but we decided not to. The staff were lovely & attentive at all other times. It feels harsh. They just didn't live up to my expectations. Still the food is good. read more

Our second time at this restaurant. Very good basque food; creative dishes with terrific flavors. Wine is also good and reasonably priced. Service prompt, courteous and efficient; Saira, our waitress was terrific. She was not only knowledgeable about the menu/ specials but was also very attentive. I would highly recommend! read more

Awesome tapas and wine. Service AAA! Next time I am in London I will definitely go there again!

My fav london spot! I'm from NY where there are tons of restaurants some good some bad and this Intimate, sassy tapas/wine bars is one of my Favorite places. Good WINE, GREAT tapas, and Amazing staff!!! read more

Donostia - Bar area - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - London, XGL

We would like to give 3.5 stars. Service was great. Home-made gelato was awesome - same quality as in Italy. Huge prawn (almost like baby lobster), quail were great. Choice was limited, but quality was great. Black rice was so-so. Padron pepper was great. Triple cooked chips was alright. Will go back. read more

Great food, gotta get the gin & tonic cocktail with cucumbers, dessert was not as on point as the rest but really good vibe here!